Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness Efforts

[ FACT SHEET]April 2016

IntroductionThe National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Health and Disability program offers technical assistance to local health departments to improve their capacity to develop emergency preparedness plans that are inclusive of people with disabilities. The program provides health departments with practical strategies and recommendations for successfully including people with disabilities in emergency planning and response efforts.

Based on NACCHO’s experience in providing this technical assistance to health departments, NACCHO developed five key recommendations that health departments should consider when planning to accommodate and address the needs of people with disabilities in emergencies or disasters.

Recommendation #1: Local health departments should define who makes up the population of people living with disabilities in their jurisdiction.

People with disabilities are a subpopulation of those with access and functional needs. People with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments may require accommodations in order to successfully access programs and services.

Recommendation #2: Local health departments should include people with disabilities in all emergency planning efforts (e.g., drills, exercises trainings, site visits).

Including people with disabilities in emergency preparedness planning efforts allows the health department to receive candid feedback from people with disabilities. This feedback allows the health department to have a better understanding of what works well in the plan and identify areas for improvement.

Resources

» At-Risk Populations eTool: To Define, Locate, and Reach Special, Vulnerable, and At-Risk Populations in an Emergency http://1.usa.gov/1StIyyN

» Planning for an Emergency: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Groups http://1.usa.gov/1XIPVDZ

» Disability Inclusive Emergency Management: Understanding the Preparedness, Response and Recovery Needs of the Whole Community http://1.usa.gov/26fekqs

Resources

» A Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning http://1.usa.gov/23K1XUE

» Checklist for Integrating People with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs into Emergency Preparedness, Planning, Response, and Recovery http://bit.ly/20XKpPE

» Planning Accessible Meetings and Events http://1.usa.gov/1WeeCsT

[2 ] Fact Sheet: Including People with Disabilities in Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Smoking Programs Offered by Local Health Departments

Recommendation #3: Local health departments should ensure accessibility for all people with disabilities during an emergency or disaster.

One of the most important roles of local government is to protect its citizens from harm; making local emergency preparedness plans and response efforts inclusive of and accessible to people with disabilities is a critical part of this responsibility. Making these programs accessible is also required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Accessible Communication

Ensure accessible communications for people with disabilities during an emergency or disaster. NACCHO recommends clearly articulating in the plan the methods that will be used to reach/communicate with people who have disabilities.

Accessible Shelters

Assure that shelters have easily accessible parking, entrances, exterior routes, interior routes, and bathrooms serving the shelter area. Identify and publicize the locations of accessible shelters.

Accessible Transportation

Provide public transportation and special transportation arrangements accessible to all populations during an emergency. Make all public buses, vans, and other modes of transportation user-friendly. Always clearly communicate where people can use accessible transportation.

Accessible Equipment

Ensure emergency response units such as fire and police have and know how to use equipment to assist people with physical disabilities. This includes equipment such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, transfer boards, canes, and other devices.

Resources

Accessible Communication

» Effective Communications for People with Disabilities: Before, During, and After Emergencies http://1.usa.gov/1YH9Rr3

» FEMA Promising Practice: Effective Communications Toolkit http://bit.ly/1phjVea

Accessible Shelters

» FEMA Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters http://1.usa.gov/1MIv1nY

» Americans with Disabilities Act Checklist for Emergency Shelters http://1.usa.gov/1Vk4pwi

» Emergency Shelter Communications Toolkit http://bit.ly/1QntM8b

Accessible Transportation

» Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles http://1.usa.gov/1NltuUX

Accessible Equipment

» FEMA Orientation Manual for First Responders on the Evacuation of People with Disabilities http://bit.ly/20XNtvh

Recommendation #4: Local health departments should provide adequate training to all staff members on the topic of working with and serving people with disabilities during an emergency or disaster.

Training should include increasing staff awareness about the importance of including people with disabilities in all emergency preparedness efforts.

Recommendation #5: Local health departments should work with members of the community (both people with disabilities and community organizations) in all emergency preparedness planning efforts and exercises.

Community-Based Organizations

Partner with local community-based organizations who serve people with disabilities in the jurisdiction. These community-based organizations know their members best, and they can be instrumental in locating and communicating with their clients during an emergency or disaster.

People with Disabilities

Provide personal preparedness education and outreach for people with disabilities. Consider developing and distributing personal planning materials or packets specifically tailored to the needs of people with disabilities in the jurisdiction.

Fact Sheet: Including People with Disabilities in Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Smoking Programs Offered by Local Health Departments [3 ]

Additional Resources

» Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities http://1.usa.gov/1U6JzPC

» Guidance on Integrating People with Access and Functional Needs into Disaster Preparedness Planning for States and Local Governments http://1.usa.gov/20XRYGe

» Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning http://1.usa.gov/22OaRuD

» Emergency Response for People Who Have Access and Functional Needs: A Guide for First Responders http://bit.ly/1Vka852

Resources

» Disability Training for Emergency Planners: Serving People with Disabilities http://bit.ly/23K3Kc9

» Disability Trainings for First Responders http://bit.ly/1phmHAa

» Just in Time Disaster Training: Disability Awareness for Responders http://bit.ly/20XOgfI

Resources

Community-Based Organizations

» Directory of Community-Based Organizations http://bit.ly/1MIxDSE

» Serving and Protecting: The Role of Disability and Aging Organizations in Disaster Planning http://bit.ly/1STWAqB

» When Disaster Strikes: An Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Service Providers http://bit.ly/1SvLyhg

» National and Statewide Disability Organizations http://bit.ly/22O8V5k

People with Disabilities

» Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs http://rdcrss.org/1Tjo241

» Preparing Your Home and Family: People with Disabilities http://rdcrss.org/1rkNuxg

» Get Ready! Alaska’s Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for People with Disabilities http://1.usa.gov/1SvMjXu

The mission of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice with local health departments.

1100 17th St, NW, 7th Floor Washington, DC 20036

P 202-783-5550 F 202-783-1583

© 2015. National Association of County and City Health Officialswww.naccho.org

[ FACT SHEET]June 2015

AcknowledgmentsThis fact sheet was made possible through support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cooperative Agreement #1U38OT000172-02. NACCHO is grateful for this support. Its contents are solely the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the sponsor. NACCHO thanks 2015–2016 Health and Disability Fellow Erin Linden, MPH candidate at The University of Minnesota, for her work in developing this fact sheet.

FOR MORE InFORMATIOn, PlEASE COnTACT:

Jennifer li, MHS Director, Environmental Health and Health and Disability jli@naccho.org

Kendall leser, PhD Program Analyst, Health and Disability kleser@naccho.org